Diocese of Pala (Palai)
Author: Jobi Varghese First featured: July 12, 2006 Last updated: July 12, 2006
|
Scenic splendour, cultural exuberance, ubiquitous rubber plantations, and the melodious flow of the Meenachil river welcome you to Pala, the home of industrious and devout people, located 28 KM distant from Kottayam town in Kerala.
A renowned town in the Meenachil taluk of Kottayam district, Pala is an important centre of St Thomas Christians. Of all Syro-Malabar dioceses, the Pala diocese has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics.
Pala comprises mainly agrarian families, and consists of large stretches of cultivated area growing a variety of crops and spices, lush green paddy fields, scores of hillocks and streams, and obviously the widespread tea estates situated in every nook and corner of the region.
Pala is also the gateway to the Highranges and several tourist spots such as Munnar, Thekkady, Sabarimala, Vagamon, etc. Christian pilgrimage centres namely Mannanam, Bharananganam, Ramapuram, etc. are situated close to Pala.
Blessed Kunjachan (Fr Augustine Thevarparambil) and Servant of God Fr Mathew Kadalikkattil hailed from the diocese of Pala.
The diocese of Pala (Palai) was erected in 1950, bifurcating the (Arch)diocese of Changanassery. The Pala diocese extends over Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts in Kerala.
In July 1950, late Mar Sebastian Vayalil was appointed as the first bishop of Palai diocese. Thirty years after assuming office as Bishop, Mar Sebastian Vayalil resigned as Bishop in 1981, following which Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil was appointed as the second bishop of Pala diocese in March 1981.
Mar Sebastian Vayalil passed away on November 21, 1986.
Following the retirement as Bishop of Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil in 2004, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt was appointed as the third bishop of the diocese of Pala in March 2004, and has been serving as Bishop since.
Foranes, Parishes, Population
The Pala diocese comprises nine foranes, with the parishes under all these nine foranes numbering 168. There are also tens of stations and chapels in the diocese.
The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the diocese is about 3,50,000.
Diocesan Centre & Cathedral Church
The diocesan house is situated in an extremely scenic compound in the heart of Pala town.
St Thomas Cathedral, the diocesan Cathedral, is located 2 KM distant from the bishop's house.
Address:
Bishop's House
P.B. No. 18, Palai
Kottayam Dt, Kerala - 686 575, India
Tel: (04822) 212216, 212217, 214338
Fax: (04822) 211379
E-mail: aramanapala@sancharnet.in
Palai Diocese
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2006, SyroMalabar.com. All rights reserved.
|
www.syromalabar.com - A Website on the Syro-Malabar Church
THE CHURCH | DIOCESES | PARISHES | CHURCHES | PRAYERS | LYRICS
|
